Six Sites Named Shovel Ready
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowLieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann has unveiled the latest group of shovel-ready locations throughout Indiana. The sites in six counties have been designated by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs as ready for economic development and investment opportunities.
November 18, 2014
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — Today, Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann announced the latest Indiana Shovel Ready locations throughout the Hoosier state. A program administered through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), the Indiana Shovel Ready designation certifies that sites have proven to be prepped and are ready for economic development and investment opportunities.
Shovel Ready sites include:
• Benton County – Boswell Industrial Park
• Elkhart County – Syracuse 6 & 13 Industrial and Technology Park
• Hancock County – The Townsend Property (Mt. Comfort)
• Marshall County – Argos 17th Road Industrial Site
• Owen County – Owen Camp Site Highway 43 Industrial Park
• Steuben County – The Fremont Industrial Site
“Progress throughout Indiana depends on communities taking proactive steps to demonstrate they are ready and committed to cultivating economic development opportunities in their communities,” said Ellspermann, who oversees OCRA. “I encourage new businesses looking to invest in Indiana to consider these locations that are primed and ready for partnerships and investments that will certainly contribute to furthering Indiana’s economic opportunities and growth in the near future.”
A site is declared “Shovel Ready” upon filling out an application and determining if the site has a base level of defined boundaries with a clear title, an established price, demonstration of executive level local government support, defined utility capacity and have provided documentation such as a Phase I environmental assessment, ALTA survey and wetland delineation.
Local kick-off events are scheduled to take place:
• Tuesday, November 18 – Argos Town Hall
• Thursday, November 20 – Benton County Courthouse (Lt. Governor attending)
• Friday, November 21 – Fremont Town Hall (Lt. Governor attending)
• Friday, November 21 – Buck Creek Township Fire Department
Led by OCRA, Shovel Ready Indiana is a partnership with the state's Fast Access Site Team (FAST), which is comprised of multiple state agencies including the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) with the goal to expedite the business location process by making sites more attractive to companies and site-selection consultants looking to locate or expand their business. Communities of any size may apply for the designation through OCRA and are encouraged to visit www.in.gov/ocra/2622.htm for additional information on Indiana’s Shovel Ready program.
The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ (OCRA) mission is to promote rural community prosperity to strengthen Indiana’s economy by providing capacity-building solutions to assure ready, marketable and competitive opportunities for economic growth. For additional information on OCRA and its programs visit www.ocra.in.gov.
For updates from Lt. Governor Ellspermann and the agencies she oversees, please visit www.lg.in.gov.
Source: Office of Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann